Now-a-Dollar Sept. 10 | Buzz Blog
Support the Free Press | Facts matter. Truth matters. Journalism matters
Salt Lake City Weekly has been Utah's source of independent news and in-depth journalism since 1984. Donate today to ensure the legacy continues.

Buzz Blog

Archives | RSS

Thursday, September 8, 2011

A&E / Culture

Now-a-Dollar Sept. 10

Posted By on September 8, 2011, 9:31 AM

  • Pin It
    Print
    Favorite

Two new offerings come to Utah bargain theaters this week: one meant to be uplifting and spiritually inspirational, the other not so much. ---

The not-so-much comes from Horrible Bosses, a raunchy tale of three pals (Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis) whose miserable professional situations inspire them to a Strangers on a Train-like pact: They’ll kill one another’s bosses. Great supporting performances—including Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell and Jennifer Aniston as the titular case studies in inappropriate management practices—elevate the whole enterprise, but there’s a structural laziness at the core that makes it feel like wasted potential. Rarely have I laughed so much at a movie I’m not sure I actually liked all that much.

Writer/director T.C. Christensen aims for something considerably more family-friendly with 17 Miracles, loosely based on historical accounts of two different Mormon handcart treks, here combined for dramatic efficiency into one. And unfortunately, that’s the only part of the film where dramatic concerns seem to enter into the thinking, because the reality is that miracles aren’t very interesting as drama. It’s lovely to look at, but when every crisis is destined to be resolved by a prayer, it’s hard to care unless you’re one of the converted it’s preaching to.

Tags:

  |  

About The Author

Scott Renshaw

Scott Renshaw
Bio:
 Scott Renshaw has been a City Weekly staff member since 1999, including assuming the role of primary film critic in 2001 and Arts & Entertainment Editor in 2003. Scott has covered the Sundance Film Festival for 25 years, and provided coverage of local arts including theater, pop-culture conventions, comedy,... more

On Topic...

More by Scott Renshaw

Latest in Buzz Blog

Promotions
···

© 2025 Salt Lake City Weekly

Website powered by Foundation

❌